Indian cameramen attacked covering political clash

New
York, June 11, 2013--Indian authorities should bring to justice the perpetrators
of an attack on three cameramen in Kolkata, capital of eastern West Bengal
state, on Friday, in which one reporter was almost burned alive, the Committee to
Protect Journalists said today.

News
accounts reported that the journalists--Barun Sengupta of Chhobish Ghanta TV,
Astik Chatterjee of ABP Ananda TV,
and Tona Singha Roy of Kolkata TV--were attacked while covering clashes that had
erupted between two rival factions in connection with a murder that had taken
place the previous day, reports said.

Chatterjee
told reporters the
assailants attacked him with canes and bricks, confiscated his phone, and
damaged his camera, the reports said. Sengupta filed a police complaint in
which he said the attackers doused him with gasoline and were about to light
him on fire, but law enforcement arrived on the scene, according to the
reports.

A
local hospital treated Sengupta and Chatterjee for severe head injuries and
listed them in critical condition on Friday, reports said. News
accounts reported on Monday that
the journalists were no longer in critical condition.

The
reports said that the assailants were carrying flags of the ruling Trinamool
Congress party, which is headed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The ruling
party has denied that its party members were responsible for the attack.

"Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee must use her influence to ensure justice is delivered
in this attack," said Bob Dietz, CPJ's Asia program coordinator. "Swift action
against the attackers will signal that such senseless violence against
journalists is unacceptable in democratic India."

At
least 14 people have been arrested in connection with the attack, according to
news reports. The
attack is also being investigated by the state's human rights commission, reports said.